Drass, July 23: President Ram Nath Kovind will visit the war memorial in Drass on Friday to pay tributes to soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1999 Kargil conflict with Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam earlier this month had gone to the memorial ahead of Kovind's visit.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the memorial on July 20. Preparations by the Indian Army are in full swing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war to rekindle the pride and valour of the soldiers who took part in Operation Vijay. Kargil Vijay Diwas 2019: Over 100 BSF Jawans Donate Blood to Mark Kargil Victory.

The war memorial has around 500 tombstones with the name of soldiers inscribed in them. The Indian armed forces had defeated Pakistan on July 26, 1999. Since then, the day is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas.